Walk-in rotary printing machine unit

ABSTRACT

An improved perfecting unit of a rotary web printing machine having at least two printing couples where in the printing couples are separated such that they are in spaced apart relation with each other and including modular pre-wired housing sections, guards and shields for each couple thereby providing a configuration having a walk-in space which facilitates improved installation, operation, repair and maintenance.

[ Jan. 29, 1974 United States Patent [191 Fusco et al.

OTI-IERPUBLICATIONS Royal Zenith Webmatic, Royal Zenith Corp. 1/7/64; pamphlet.

[75] Inventors: Ralph L. Fusco, Commack; Robert White Plamvlew both of Toronto Daily Star, April, 1971, Printing Trades [73] Assignee: Wood Industries, Inc., Plainfield, Journal, pp. 46-48.

Page 47, June 1970, Printing Trades Journal.

Printing Trades Journal. Page 34, November 1967, Printing Magazine/National Lithographer.

Page 52, June 1970,

[22] Filed:

Oct. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 189,140

Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerR. E. Suter Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pennie & Edmonds mwmn s H5 2 1 or mm 4 9 2 0B s a m m u i 0 m 9 1 m mm8 8 mm mmm 1 m. Wmhm mRZ wl mm 7 II. 00 M d0 Stlul i UhF HUN 555 [57] ABSTRACT An improved perfecting unit of a rotary web printing [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS machine having at least two printing couples where in the printing couples are separated such that they are in spaced apart relation with each other and including modular pre-wired housing sections, guards and shields for each couple thereby providing a configuration having a walk-in space which facilitates improved installation, operation, repair and maintenance.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Brueshaber......

Koch.........

Polglase........

Livingston Neal.............. Hirose..........................

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 10/1923 Germany PAIENIEI] JAN 2 9 I974 SHEET 1 0F 3 FIG. 1

INVENTORS Ralph L. Fusco Robert A. White BYM, MKM

TTORNEYS WALK-IN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to rotary web printing machines and particularly to perfecting units of such printing machines.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional perfecting units of rotary web printing machines comprise two printing couples for printing in successive order on both sides of the paper web which is guided through the unit. Each couple generally includes a printing plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an inking system for applying printing ink to the printing plates of the plate cylinder. The couples are assembled with bearings for the cylinders, inking systems and drive mechanisms in supporting side frames which are in the form of an arch or an inverted U in modern printing machines. This configuration has not facilitated ready access to the narrowly confined space in the arch between the couples to perform the routine periodically recurring work which is required on the couples. Components such as ink rollers, sprockets, ink mist preventing devices require periodic maintenance, cleaning and repair. In addition, with machines of the prior art, efforts to place space guards, shields and the like on the inside of the inking devices of the couples for protecting machine operators or for dampening the noise of the high speed machine components have proved to be extremely difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly stated, the invention relates to an improved arrangement, construction and combination of parts comprising a perfecting unit of a rotary web printing machine. More particularly, it relates to the provision of separate front and rear side frames for supporting each printing couple and separation of said front side frames such that they are in spaced apart relation with each other and a bracket means connecting the rear side frames to provide a rigid structure. A substantially vertical drive shaft extends from the main rotary powered drive shaft of the machine to at least one of said printing plate cylinders rotatably connecting the cylinder to the drive shaft for geared rotation. A substantially horizontal upper drive shaft is mounted between the rear portions of each couple and extends between the printing plate cylinders rotatably connecting said cylinders for geared rotation. The resulting opening in the front of the machine provides a walk-in space which enables press operators, maintenance men etc. to enter the unit from the operating or front side. This improvement facilitates convenient performance of various operations with respect to the printing machine. For example press operations include periodic adjustment of ink rollers within their sockets, handling of paper webs such as threading the web through the unit after a break occurs, adjusting and renewing of packing and of the blanket of impression cylinders, setting and servicing of ink mist preventing devices and the like. The new improved structure of the present invention facilitates the necessary accessibility to the couples of the perfecting unit such that these and other operations may be performed more efficiently than in the past. The possibility of accidents such as those which were previously caused by the nip between the cylinders and ink rollers will also be reduced by the improved arrangement and spacing of components. In the units of the prior art the components usually did not have adequate space for providing effective guards and shields. The present invention provides adequate space for the incorporation of sufficient finger guards and shields since they are less obstructing in the improved unit.

Modular housing sections, which are readily removable, are preferably provided with electrical wiring and controls adapted for ready connection with the common electrical circuitry of the printing machine. This improved configuration facilitates efficient and quick installation of a complete printing machine or portions thereof without necessitating removal of walls, windows and the like. The modular construction provides for easy removal of a damaged couple or component thereof and replacing it without disturbing the entire pressroom operation.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved perfecting unit for a rotary printing machine.

A feature of our invention is the separation of the couples of the perfecting unit and the provision of an open frame on the operating side of the machine with separate forward and rear side frames supporting each couple thereby making it possible to walk into the space provided by such configuration and facilitating improved operation, repair and maintenance.

Another feature of our invention is the provision of an improved perfecting unit of a rotary web printing machine whereby each couple is completely pre-wired and the electrical controls are provided in a housing located outside of a side frame.

Another feature of our invention is the provision of a perfecting unit having electrical controls and control elements for the printing couples on convenient control console panels.

Another feature of our invention is the provision of improved guards and shields enclosing each couple, said guards and shields improving safety of operation and providing dampening of the noise levels produced by said unit during operation.

Still another feature of our invention is the provision of a perfecting unit having printing couples comprising modular components and housing thereby facilitating efficient repair, maintenance or replacement of said perfecting unit or components thereof.

Still another feature of our invention is the provision of a perfecting unit having at least two printing couples with direct access to the central portion whereby threading of the paper web into and through the unit can be performed with improved efficiency.

Still another feature of our invention is the provision of an improved perfecting unit of a printing machine whereby the operator of the printing machine may readily examine the resulting printed matter on both sides of the web paper before it is cut or folded or becomes associated with the printing webs of other perfecting units of the printing machine.

Other features and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following description which refers to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the perfecting unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 isa side elevational view of a perfecting unit forming a portion of a rotary web printing machine viewed from the operating or front side of the machine, and illustrating diagrammatically the components of the unit and other perfecting units in relation thereto;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the perfecting unit of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the drive or rear side of the perfecting unit illustrating diagrammatically the components of the unit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a perspective view of the perfecting unit comprising two printing couples l2 and 14. A plurality of perfecting units such as that shown in FIG. 1 are conventionally assembled in end-to-end relation as shown in FIG. 2. They are conventionally assembled on a supporting structure I6 which comprises longitudinally extending beam means 18 and support posts 20 as shown in FIG. 2. Each couple includes a printing plate cylinder 22, an impression or blanket cylinder 24, an inking device 26, and an ink supply pump 28. The ink supply pump 28 is preferably of the type such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,051, assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

Each couple l2, 14 is preferably a standard structure which comprises a front or operating side frame 30 and a rear or drive side frame 32. The rear side frames 32 are preferably connected by a bracket 34 by which the couples 12 and 14 are spaced apart from each other in such a manner as to provide an open space between the front side frames 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Front side frames 30 and rear side frames 32 are preferably connected by a cross brace 36 as shown. A further cross bracing is provided by the structure of the ink supply pump system which extends between the front side frames 30 and the rear side frames 32. The total unit 10, which is shown clearly in FIG. 3 as having a U shaped configuration thus comprises a rigid structure.

The couples l2, 14 are preferably enclosed by shielding guards 38 and 40 on the outside portion and similar shields 42 and 44 on the inside portion typically shown in FIG. 1. Cover shields 46 and 48 are provided on the top portion of the couples. The guards 38 and 42 are slidably arranged thereby facilitating ready access to inking device 26. Guards 40 and 44 are preferably hinged in a conventional manner to provide for ready access behind them. Such an enclosure provides slotlike openings for the paper web to pass through the perfecting unit and also provides for the safety of operating personnel by enclosing the rotating components of each couple, thereby minimizing accessibility to said components during operation of the printing machine. In addition, it has been found that such guards and shields also provide for substantial dampening of the noise levels generated by the machine components during operation.

Slidable guards 38 and 42 also provide ready access to the rollers of inking device and to ink mist preventive systems and the like which may be arranged near the rollers of inking device 26. The drive mechanisms for driving printing plate cylinders 22, impression cylinders 24, inking devices 26 and the like may be located on the rearward side of frame 32. As shown in FIG. 4, there is an electric motor 50 for driving unit 10, a horizontal main shaft 52, vertical shaft 54, gears 56 an upper horizontal shaft 58 with upper gears 60 and 62 for connecting the cylinders 22 of the couples l2 and 14. The drive components of the unit are preferably enclosed in a separate housing; however, each couple of perfecting unit 10 includes housings 64 and 66 as shown in FIG. 3 and which are assembled and prewired for connecting all necessary controls for the unit such as contactors, speed switches and the like to the electrical circuitry of the printing machine. Electrical components for the electrical circuitry of the machine may be located in housing 66 for example and controls, relays and automatic switches may be mounted and pre wired in housing 64. Similarly housings 68 and 70 clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are preferably secured to the front side frames 30. Such housings may include electrical components for the ink pumps and the electronic controls for example required for operation of the unit. Convenient console panels 72 and 74 with control pushbuttons 76 may be integrally provided with housings 68 and 70 as shown in FIG. 1. These control pushbuttons are preferably factory pre-wired with housings 68 and 70 so that upon final assembly the perfecting unit is in modular form whereby the necessary interconnecting circuitry for the entire printing machine may be connected through bus bar ducts 78. It should be understood that the controls for the entire printing machine may alternately be combined in one or several central command console panels whereby it would be necessary to lead control cables from the units to the central consoles.

It may be seen that separate modular components such as the rear housing and forward housing etc. are easily removed for repair and/or replacement whenever necessary with minimum interruption of operation of the printing machine.

While a preferred form of the invention has been described, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made by those skilled in this particular art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. I

We claim:

1. In a perfecting unit of a rotary wcb printing machine having a forward end and a rearward end, an electrical power source, a main rotary powered drive shaft, electrical circuitry, and a duct enclosing at least a portion of said electrical circuitry, said duct being connected in communicating relation with ducts of the printing machine, two printing couples, each couple including a rotatably mounted printing plate cylinder having its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the main drive shaft and in a forward and rearward direction, said printing plate cylinders being drivingly connected together by a substantially horizontal drive shaft at the rearward end portion of the unit and being relatively positioned and aligned in a substantially horizontal plane such that one printing plate cylinder is in direct contact with one side of a web intended for printing thereon, and the other printing plate cylinder is in direct contact with the other side of the web, and an inking system, said inking system including at least one ink feeding pump for applying printing ink to the printing plates of said plate cylinders, the improvement which comprises:

a. a forward support side frame member supporting the forward portion of each couple in spaced apart relation and providing an inner walk-in space for said perfecting unit;

b. a rearward support side frame member supporting the rearward portion of each couple in spaced apart relation;

. a U-shaped bracket member having at least one d. a substantially vertical drive shaft extending from said main rotary powered drive shaft to at least one of said printing plate cylinders and drivingly connecting said cylinders for geared rotation such that the couples of the perfecting unit are driven by the main power source;

. a first housing removably secured to the forward side of each of said forward support side frame members, said housings being configured to contain electrical control components for said perfecting unit, and a console command panel secured to each of said housings, each of said command panels having manually operable switch elements for controlling said unit;

f. shielding guard members releasably disposed on the outer side of each couple extending from the forward frame member to the rearward frame member;

g. shielding guard members releasably mounted on the inner side portion of each couple and extending from the forward frame member to the rearward frame member; and

h. shielding guard members releasably disposed on the upper portion of each couple and extending from the forward frame member to the rearward frame member such that accessibility to the rotating components during operation of said machine is minimized and the noise levels generated by the rotating components of said printing machine are dampened and the ink mist produced by said cylinders is contained within said guard members, the configuration of said improved perfecting unit being such that a web intended for printing an impression thereon may be fed into the first driven couple for a first printing and to the second driven couple for a second printing and the configuration of the perfecting unit provides a walk-in space on the forward end between the couples thereby facilitating improved operation, repair and maintenance of said printing machine.

2. The improved perfecting unit according to claim 1 further comprising a pre-wired housing removably secured to the rearward side support frame member of each couple, said housings being configured to contain electrical control components for said perfecting unit, thereby providing an enclosed rearward control section for each couple of said perfecting unit. 

1. In a perfecting unit of a rotary web printing machine having a forward end and a rearward end, an electrical power source, a main rotary powered drive shaft, electrical circuitry, and a duct enclosing at least a portion of said electrical circuitry, said duct being connected in communicating relation with ducts of the printing machine, two printing couples, each couple including a rotatably mounted printing plate cylinder having its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the main drive shaft and in a forward and rearward direction, said printing plate cylinders being drivingly connected together by a substantially horizontal drive shaft at the rearward end portion of the unit and being relatively positioned and aligned in a substantially horizontal plane such that one printing plate cylinder is in direct contact with one side of a web intended for printing thereon, and the other printing plate cylinder is in direct contact with the other side of the web, and an inking system, said inking system including at least one ink feeding pump for applying printing ink to the printing plates of said plate cylinders, the improvement which comprises: a. a forward support side frame member supporting the forward portion of each couple in spaced apart relation and providing an inner walk-in space for said perfecting unit; b. a rearward support side frame member supporting the rearward portion of each couple in spaced apart relation; c. a U-shaped bracket member having at least one vertical flange member secured to the upper portion of one rearward support side frame member, a second vertical flange member secured to the upper portion of the other rearward support side frame member, and a horizontal flange member rigidly connecting said vertical flange members so as to securely connect and stabilize said rearward support side frame members to support said horizontal drive shaft at the rearward end of said unit for simultaneously rotating said printing plate cylinders while providing a walk-in space at the forward end of said perfecting unit; d. a substantially vertical drive shaft extending from said main rotary powered drive shaft to at least one of said printing plate cylinders and drivingly connecting said cylinders for geared rotation such that the couples of the perfecting unit are driven by the main power source; e. a first housing removably secured to the forward side of each of said forward support side frame members, said housings being configured to contain electrical control components for said perfecting unit, and a console command panel secured to each of said housings, each of said command panels having manually operable switch elements for controlling said unit; f. shielding guard members releasably disposed on the outer side of each couple extending from the forward frame member to the rearward frame member; g. shielding guard members releasably mounted on the inner side portion of each couple and extending from the forward frame member to the rearward frame member; and h. shielding guard members releasably disposed on the upper portion of each couple and extending from the forward frame member to the rearward frame member such that accessibility to the rotating components during operation of said machine is minimized and the noise levels generated by the rotating components of said printing machine are dampened and the ink mist produced by said cylinders is contained within said guard members, the configuration of said improved perfecting unit being such that a web intended for printing an impression thereon may be fed into the first driven couple for a first printing and to the second driven couple for a second printing and the configuration of the perfecting unit provides a walk-in space on the forward end between the couples thereby facilitating improved operation, repair and maintenance of said printing machine.
 2. The improved perfecting unit according to claim 1 further comprising a pre-wired housing removably secured to the rearward side support frame member of each couple, said housings being configured to contain electrical control components for said perfecting unit, thereby providing an enclosed rearward control section for each couple of said perfecting unit. 